WAC Commish Claims Early Departure Of
Nevada, Fresno State Would Harm Conference

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson yesterday said that the lawsuit "aimed
at forcing Nevada and Fresno State to remain in the league through the
2011-2012 academic year was filed last week because the very survival
of the conference is at stake," according to Tony Jones of the SALT
LAKE TRIBUNE. Benson "spoke of substantial monetary damage to the
schools and the league as a whole if Nevada and Fresno State were
allowed to head to the MWC in time for 2011." Benson: "The damages the
WAC could incur if Fresno State and Nevada left early are very, very
significant. ... We have declared consistently that the schedule for
2011 would be drastically challenging for the remaining six members if
Nevada and Fresno State left. Contracts with bowl partners would be
damaged, our television contract with ESPN would be affected, there are
myriad reasons why Fresno and Nevada need to fulfill their obligations
to the conference." Jones notes the "other matter at hand is the $5
million buyout that Benson says both schools owe." While not
"specifically speaking on the issue," Benson said that Nevada and
Fresno State "have 60 days to deliver payment." But he added that the
buyouts are a "separate issue." Benson noted that he "hasn't heard from
either school since the lawsuit was filed." Nevada President Milton
Glick in a statement said, "It is unfortunate that this matter has
moved to litigation before any discussions between the parties were
undertaken" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/15).
Benson said that "keeping Fresno State and Nevada in the league until
2012 is 'the issue that is the most urgent' to avoid what the lawsuit
says would be 'irreparable' injuries" to the league -- including the
"possible renegotiation of its broadcast contract with ESPN, the
potential loss of revenue from the Bowl Championship Series, and the
'impossibility' of scheduling replacement football games for some of
its remaining members in the 2011 season." Benson: "Call an athletic
director and ask them how difficult it would be to schedule a game for
2011 right now, let alone three of them" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/15).

SUING MWC, TOO: Benson said that the MWC also was
"named as a defendant because the WAC wants to keep the MWC, Nevada and
Fresno State from scheduling games prior to the 2012 football season."
The WAC is "seeking injunctive relief from such action." Benson said
that he "did not have any evidence that the MWC and the two schools had
already begun communication regarding schedules" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 9/15).

Incoming NCAA President Mark Emmert will not formally take office until Oct. 5, but he already has "shaken up the NCAA's Indianapolis-based staff -- releasing and reassigning several top executives -- and said more moves are coming as he tries to 'simplify the organizational structure' and cut costs," according to Steve Wieberg of USA TODAY. Emmert "wouldn't rule out a reduction in the NCAA's staff of almost 500, paralleling cost-cutting efforts at many individual schools." But he was "emphatic Tuesday that any such measures wouldn't extend to enforcement." Emmert said enforcement staff "potentially" could grow. He added that he "sees a recent spate of high-profile infractions cases 'having an appropriate impact on the way people look at and think about playing within the rules.'" Wieberg notes college football "has seen a wave of agent-related cases" that NCAA VP/Enforcement Services David Price "attributes to a 10-year push in that area." Emmert "has been involved in discussions with coaches and NFL and NFL Players Association officials about illicit activity" (USA TODAY, 9/15). Emmert: "It's going to take a collective effort with the leagues and the players associations, the coaches, the student-athletes themselves, to find out what the real tools are that we can use. The NCAA's role is pulling all of the parties together. There's no one silver bullet here" (AP, 9/14).